Fiona Chryssides – General Adjudicator
David Beer BA (Hons) – Music Theatre Adjudicator
RJ Hughes – Traditional Music Adjudicator
Fiona Chryssides – General Adjudicator
Originally from Scotland, Fiona is a pianist and organist who has given organ recitals in cathedrals throughout Britain and worked extensively as a conductor for choirs and choral societies and as a coach for pianists and for singers (where her knowledge of languages has been a great asset). The first director of music for the University of Plymouth, (Choral Society, Orchestra and MD for the Musical Society), Fiona has examined for ABRSM, and adjudicated at music festivals in the UK and abroad for many years. She now lives in Herefordshire with a small teaching practice (organ and piano).
David Beer BA (Hons) – Music Theatre Adjudicator
David Beer is a professional conductor and pianist. He studied at Hull University where he gained a BA with Honours. While teaching in Hull, he conducted choral and light operatic societies but, in 1980, he decided to leave teaching and forge a career as a freelance conductor.
He has conducted many West End shows including Fame, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl. David has played on film scores, appeared on TV and radio both as a conductor and pianist and has recorded three original cast albums (Fame – the Musical, Song of Singapore and The Rink by Kander and Ebb). For some years, he worked for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company conducting many of his shows, including Cats, Aspects of Love, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph. He was also Sarah Brightman’s accompanist, recording the album “The Songs that Got Away”, with her. In 2009, he was asked by Brian May of Queen to be Musical Director of the first UK tour of ‘We Will Rock You’’.
As Director of Music at the BRIT School for Performing Arts 2000 – 2004, David discovered and taught Katie Melua and Leona Lewis, among others. He has also taught, taken vocal workshops and been MD of shows at Arts Educational School, Guildhall, Guilford Conservatoire, Italia Conti Academy and RADA. David is an examiner for London College of Music, specializing in Music Theatre, Pop Vocals and Piano and was recently awarded an FLCM for Professional Achievement. He is a Music Mentor for Music for Youth Festivals and has adjudicated many festivals nationwide.
He lives in Bedfordshire where he teaches singing and piano and conducts several local choirs.
RJ Hughes – Traditional Music Adjudicator
Robbie Hughes was born in 1950, educated at Portora ; he later studied design at the University of Ulster.
Having completed a post – graduate year, this led to an examination of the construction and function of the Uilleann Pipes, a subject which at that time, hadn’t generated the current level of popular interest.
In 1976 Hughes & McLeod set up a workshop near Downpatrick specialising in the making & exporting of Uilleann Pipes to many overseas markets.
Always looking at new materials and technological developments, the company was awarded the DTI’s SMART award stages one & two in 1990; this was for research into the double reed for musical instruments.
RJ Hughes lives near Strangford, Co.Down where he produces the Clanrye Synthetic reed for the Scottish Highland Pipes for Hughes and McLeod Ltd, a Qubis (QUB) company, whilst maintaining a keen interest in Irish piping and traditional music. He is a well-known adjudicator in this field.